Image reading method and apparatus having a deflecting device

摘要

Using a radiation image reading method and apparatus for reading a radiation image from a stimulable phosphor sheet on which the radiation image has been recorded, the radiation image is read quickly and an image signal having a preferable S/N ratio is obtained. A laser beam emitted from a laser beam source is reflected and deflected by a rotational polygon mirror and irradiated on the stimulable phosphor sheet storing the radiation image. Light emitted from the portion whereon the laser beam has been irradiated is photoelectrically converted by a line sensor composed of a plurality of solid state photoelectric conversion devices placed in line, and an image signal representing the radiation image recorded on the sheet is obtained.